Carolina Catering Corp. v. Defensoría de los Derechos Carcelarios

The ACLU of Puerto Rico represents the Prison Rights Advocacy Group (DDC) in a lawsuit filed by Carolina Catering Corp.—a company contracted to provide food services to the incarcerated population—following DDC publications that exposed the quality of food served in the country's prisons. The company sought damages for alleged defamation and requested that the Court order the removal of the publications and other content; the ACLU challenged these remedies, arguing that they constituted prior restraint and threatened freedom of expression as well as the public oversight of matters of significant public interest.

In a Partial Judgment, the Court dismissed the claims for a preliminary injunction and declaratory judgment, concluding that the requested relief was constitutionally impermissible and could have a chilling effect on the press, media outlets, and the general public. The litigation continues through standard proceedings regarding the other claims.